Terps' Holmes might be out Saturday and beyond

It is becoming increasingly unlikely that face-off specialist Bryn Holmes will be available for No. 9 Maryland’s contest at No. 1 Virginia this Saturday.

Holmes, who has not played since the third quarter of a 9-7 victory over Towson on March 7 due to a groin injury, was hurt in practice this week.

"We’ll have to take a look at that," Terps coach Dave Cottle said of the possibility of shutting down Holmes for an extended period. "He wanted to come back [Tuesday] and he felt great. After practice yesterday, he had a little soreness in his hip. It wasn’t really his groin. The doctors are going to check it out and see what’s going on."

If Holmes – who is 52 of 86 on face-offs – can’t play, that would leave Maryland with four players with face-off experience this season. Jeff Reynolds, Dan Burns, Jake Bernhardt and Michael Shakespeare are a combined 39 of 92 (.424) in face-offs.

In other injury news, goalkeeper Brian Phipps (head) is expected to play, while defenseman Brett Schmidt (hamstring) is questionable. Defenseman Ryder Bohlander, who suffered a concussion in Saturday’s 8-7 win against No. 13 North Carolina, is no longer plagued by headaches, but he has not practiced this week.

Schmidt’s return would provide depth to a unit that is expected to miss Brian Farrell (ribs) and Bohlander.

"It’s a big relief because he can help athletically and he can play some pole and give us some depth there along with playing down low," Cottle said of Schmidt. "Especially against a team like Virginia, it’s a big improvement for us."